Year-Round IPM Program Pages
This year-round IPM program covers the major pests of cucurbits in the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Coachella, Palos Verde and Imperial Valleys, as well as Riverside County.
About Seedlings (cotyledons to 4 leaves)
- Special issues of concern related to environmental quality: runoff, drift, risk to bees and native pollinators, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- Mitigate pesticide effects on air and water quality.
What should you be doing during this time?
Look for the following pests or their damage and manage as needed according to the Cucurbits Pest Management Guidelines:
- Aphids (green peach and melon)
- Beet armyworm
- Cabbage looper
- Cucumber beetle (adults)
- Cutworms
- Flea beetles
- Squash bugs (in squash, pumpkin, and melon)
- Whiteflies
If needed, manage weeds when small according to the Cucurbits Pest Management Guidelines. Selective herbicides can be used to control emerged grasses and nutsedges. Customize the susceptibility to herbicide table for the weed complex in your field.
Other pests or damage you may see:
Arthropods- Darkling beetles (not in desert)
- Leafminers
- Seedcorn maggot
- Wireworms (especially on transplants)
- Yellowstriped armyworm
- Seedling root rots (usually more prevalent in cool, wet soils)
- Stunted seedlings, galled roots (root knot nematodes)